My way round this is to practise/play stuff using false fingering (as long as it doesn't ruin your tuning, that is), especially faster passages. Anything using A/G# or E/Eb is good, for example. If you keep doing this your 3rd/2nd fingers get more used to being worked. Sometimes it's easier as well, at the moment being Xmas we're doing Sleigh Ride, and there's a middle A/G# fast triplet about 4 lines down that's miles easier on 3/2+3 rather than doing 1+2/2+3. Works for me!
hth

I find in fast passages my hands may hurt, but this is due to making your muscles tense up. Try hanging your are loosely, when your sitting down, standing- anywhere. Try to make it feel like it's not there, as if it's "dead" (but don't chop it off! :lol: ) Make it feel weightless and then place it loosely on to a service and pretend your pressing valves down, don't tense up anything- and make sure your fingers feel this way when you play, and hopefully it should help.

It works for pianists, but have you tried getting a balloon and filling it with rice? Use it as a stress ball type thing, but practice fingerings.

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Problem is, when you're holding the rice balloon it's hard to get the right valves to go down :wink:

Seriously, though, I think the suggestion of using alternative fingerings is a good one. I always use them regularly, partly to improve intonation but also to ensure that all the instrument is used as much as possible. If you only use the 4th valve, for example, on the odd occasion, when you do you are suddenly introducing a substantial length of tubing that may be much colder than the rest of the instrument.

Of course, carolling is one of the best occasions to practice alternatives, as it is to get used to a new instrument - plenty of playing but nothing too stressful.

I'd say give up the cornet and switch to trombone, you won't have a fingering problem then, instead you just guess where the notes are going to be by moving your slide up and down. Nearly works everytime! :wink:

I'd say give up the cornet and switch to trombone, you won't have a fingering problem then, instead you just guess where the notes are going to be by moving your slide up and down. Nearly works everytime! :wink:

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Valves are the way forward venus! why dont you get some?! heheheheheehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhehehe

I disagree. I mean everyone knows in a good band, the most intuune players are the trombonists. So maybe slides are the way of the future?? I mean it's the same principals as used by string players and guitarists......

I disagree. I mean everyone knows in a good band, the most intuune players are the trombonists. So maybe slides are the way of the future?? I mean it's the same principals as used by string players and guitarists......

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Thanx for that. I know i'm always in tune....it's everyone else, I swear!! :wink:
Oh and Rambo Chick, wait til I catch up with you!! :evil:

Herbert Clarke technical studies has loads of awkward fingering stuff.
Away from the instrument try touching the tips of you first and third finger together. First below and then above you second finger and repeat as fast as possible for as long as you like.